President Trump just freed American drivers from California’s electric vehicle chokehold. On June 12, 2025, he signed a congressional resolution torching the state’s mandate to phase out new gas-powered car sales by 2035. This bold move has California’s progressive elite clutching their pearls and plotting a lawsuit.

Trump’s pen also struck down rules forcing most new trucks in California to go electric, a decision cheered by the auto and oil industries. According to the Daily Mail, California’s plan—adopted by 11 states and Washington, D.C.—was greenlit by the Biden administration in late 2024. In one swift act, Trump dismantled a policy affecting 12% of the U.S. population.

Rewind to 2022: California announced its ban on new gas-powered cars by 2035, flexing its Clean Air Act muscle. The state’s unique ability to set stricter pollution standards, approved by the EPA, stems from its smoggy past. But Trump’s resolution says, “Not so fast, Sacramento.”

Restoring Driver Choice

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) gave Congress and Trump the power to nix recent regulations. Yet, the Government Accountability Office and Senate parliamentarian called Biden’s approval a waiver, not a rule, dodging CRA’s reach. Congress shrugged, with the House voting to rescind and the Senate using a “point of order” to steamroll the technicality.

Trump crowed, “We’re saving California, and we’re saving our entire country from a disaster.” He slammed the Biden team for giving “left-wing radicals in California dictatorial powers” over the auto industry. Sorry, Mr. President, but “dictatorial” might be a stretch—California’s voters backed this green dream, fair and square.

California’s mandate wasn’t just about trees and bunnies; it aimed to prevent nearly 1,300 cardiopulmonary deaths from 2026 to 2040. That’s a noble goal, but forcing drivers into electric vehicles ignores the wallet-busting cost of EVs and spotty charging networks. Trump’s move bets on market freedom over government mandates.

California Fights Back

Enter Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.., who lamented, “This will ultimately result in dirtier air, and more asthma and lung cancer.” He’s not wrong—reversing the mandate could worsen pollution. But crying “polluter rights” oversimplifies a debate where consumer choice and economic realities deserve a seat at the table.

Schiff also jabbed Republicans as abandoning states’ rights. “From the party that once claimed the mantle of champion of state’s rights, the GOP is now only the party of polluter rights,” he said. Nice zinger, senator, but federal overreach cuts both ways—California’s rules ripple across states that never signed up.

California’s not taking this lying down; it’s gearing up to sue Trump’s administration. The state’s history of legal brawls with Washington suggests a fierce fight ahead. With tensions already sky-high—Trump sent the military to Los Angeles over immigration protests—this lawsuit could turn Sacramento into a legal Thunderdome.

Industry Cheers, Consumers Wait

The auto industry’s John Bozzella praised the decision, saying it “stood up for customer choice.” He’s got a point: forcing buyers into EVs risks alienating folks who can’t afford them or live where chargers are scarce. Still, “choice” sounds hollow if it means dirtier air for kids with asthma.

Oil industry leaders Mike Sommers and Chet Thompson called it “a major win for the American people.” They claimed California was “telling consumers what they can and can’t drive.” Hyperbole aside, their glee underscores a truth: this rollback keeps gas pumps humming and profits flowing.

California’s 11 partner states and D.C. now face a patchwork of regulations. Without the mandate, their EV goals could stall, leaving drivers in limbo. The ripple effect might cool the green revolution—or spark innovation free from government meddling.

A Nation Divided

Trump’s resolution highlights a deeper clash: federal power versus state autonomy. California’s smog-fighting legacy earned it leeway under the Clean Air Act, but its ambitions often drag other states along. Republicans argue that’s unfair; progressives call it leadership.

The legal battle looms large, with California’s lawsuit likely to hinge on the Clean Air Act’s protections. If courts side with Trump, states’ ability to set their own environmental rules could take a hit. If California wins, expect more blue-state mandates to challenge federal authority.

For now, American drivers can breathe easier, spared from California’s EV edict. Trump’s move champions choice and economic sense, but at what cost to clean air? As courtrooms heat up, this fight’s far from over—pass the popcorn.